The National Automobile Dealers Association is the largest gathering of auto dealers in the country and CUDL, which administers the nation's largest point-of-sale and indirect auto lending network for credit unions, was there for the fifth year in a row.

The $3.3 million Kirkwood Municipal Credit Union was attempting last week to resume a semblance of normal operations following the death of three of its members in the horrific Feb. 7 shooting rampage at the Kirkwood City Hall.

Capping a search that began last October, the Credit Union League of Connecticut has hired Anthony Emerson, chief financial officer of the $175 million Maine Savings FCU, Hampden, as its new president/CEO effective March 17.

Navy Federal Credit Union has received the Department of the Navy 2007 Combined Federal Campaign President's Award. The award was presented at a CFC Awards ceremony held at the Pentagon Jan. 30, according to the CU.

In a move that could provide credit unions with a significant new option for helping lower income and underbanked communities, CO-OP Financial Services has announced the release of a reloadable debit card, which will also allow access to the CO-OP's nationwide network of surcharge-free ATMs.

New Jersey Credit Union League President/CEO Paul Gentile recently visited the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union's operations center here in an effort to strengthen the credit union movement throughout the Garden State and increase cooperation between local members.

The Indiana Credit Union League said last week its foundation has now secured blanket TV coverage for the BizKid$ financial literacy show on all eight public broadcasting stations in the state, with most stations starting to broadcast the show in January.

WesCorp Executive Vice President/Chief Investment Officer Bob Burrell drew cheers from CUES conference-goers on Feb. 7, when he predicted a return to the days of steep yield curves, with spreads as high 200 basis points.

The Woodstock Institute, a research organization specializing in housing and community reinvestment issues that has occasionally criticized what it called 'mainstream credit unions,' has lost its long-time executive director.

Back-to-back surveys of card portfolio sellers have continued to find a surprisingly high degree of dissatisfaction among credit unions that sold their card portfolios--leading one top card brokerage firm to recommend that CUs proceed with caution when considering such a move.

Credit union representatives hold signs for Capitol Hill pedestrians to see as they participate in the "stand out" Feb. 7 in Washington. While holding the signs--and balloons--the CU representatives chanted slogans, including "Look Out for the Little Guy in '08," "There's no debate -- Little Guy in '08," and "Don't...

In an effort to educate Florida credit union members on what their credit score means and how it affects the probability of securing their next loan, the FCUL Service Group has partnered with the credit bureau Experian to offer its ScoreRight product.

NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood helped the $10.5 million Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union celebrate its 25th anniversary and recognition as the largest student run CU in the country.

Regulatory/Compliance

Marking the five-year anniversary of when the Small Business Administration first expanded its loan programs to credit unions regardless of their charter, CUNA President/CEO Dan Mica and SBA Administrator Steve Preston recently met to discuss strides made and where improvements might be made.

NASCUS management and Chairman George Reynolds (Ga.) joined state regulators from the Northeast Feb. 8 to discuss current economic challenges, effects of the subprime lending market, credit quality, member business lending, and unrelated business income tax.

Albany-based Members Health Network, a subsidiary of Illinois-based Members United Corporate FCU, is using an online account opening solution from fiVISION of Indianapolis as a key part of its entry into the health savings account market.

Laborious and not the best use of employees' time. That's how Robbie Wright describes the deposit reclassification software options in the industry three years ago when $282 million MaPS Credit Union set out on a quest to find a compatible solution.

According to a recent report from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Systems and the Financial Service Fact Book, credit unions' share of individual retirement accounts has been steadily declining, falling from 2.1% in 2002 to 1.3% in 2006.

Letters to the editor

In her column of Feb. 13 on CRA, Sarah Cooke made an assertion that I think many in our industry would find troubling. In discussing the industry's Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data and addressing the disparity between white and minority loan approval rates, she noted that the data show...

After 30 years of working with credit unions that are on the front lines of serving low-income people, you'd think no financial horror stories about the victimization of the vulnerable would surprise or shake me. Been there, done that?

Publisher's Column

I didn't watch the proceedings of the 30-year anniversary hearing of the Community Reinvestment Act, but stories recounted to me were mixed with regard to credit unions' treatment. With no credit union witnesses on any of the panels, the banking trades and even the Connecticut regulator were free to suggest...

Minnesota Credit Union Foundation Family Involvement Council Treasurer Angie Pidde said her service on the Comfrey School District Board has helped provide insight into how credit unions can help schools fit financial education into their curriculum.